St. Landry democrat., 1887-04-09
A LEAP TO DEATH.
Suicide of observation-disclosures
nor Reynolds of Missouri.
Leap to Death Down the Eighty-Fo GOT
Shaft of the st Louis Custom House
Elevator-The Impelling Causes
for the Deed-Biosraphical.


ST. Louis, March 30-A few minutes att
er two o'clock this afternoon EX-Gov-
ernor Thomas G.. Reynolds committed
suicide by plunging headlong down the
elevator shaft at the custom house
Chief Janitor Mike Walsh made an ex-
animation of the circumstances at once.
1t appears that Governor Reynolds had
been about the building for some time.
He sauntered into the United States Cir
cult Court and a few moments later INTO
Mr. Selby's office, where he engaged
in a casual convers alton with that gentle
man. Several persons met MN IN the
building After leaving Mr.. Seloy ne
stood outside the door in the east cor
ridOr few minutes and walked slowly
toward the United States district attor-
ney's office, which he did not enter, how
ever, but turned into the north and south
hall, into which the assistant United
States dis riot attorneys Office and the
marshal's office ope ned.
just beyond the Mars halls office he ap-
preached the elevatorand stepping into the
gate pissed out of view of the CORRIDOR
The elevator, which consists of platform
connected to the cable by an iron yoke,
was at the bottom of the sub-base-
ment over eighty feet from the third
floor While out of view of those in the
corridor he took off his hat and overshoes
and cast himself down the shaft.
The body was taken in the patrol wagon
and carried Immediately to the Four
Courts, when letter found in the pocket
was turned over to the chief of police.
On the outside of the envelope on the
front was an inscription in pencil. The
first part of it was clear, bold AMI dis
timct. Under the signature was fur
Their inscription not so clear and
written apparently just before the
fatal leap. The whole inscription was as
follows:
Memoranda to be opened immediately after
my death, but not before.
THOS. G. REYNOLDS.
Ny las: thought will be for the welfare and
happiness of my beloved and devoted wife.
1he envelope was opened by the coro-
ner Within was tho following letter in
the Governors well-known handwriting:
TIE LETTER.
oSth March. 1887.
Two years ago. trusting to my immunity from
fever in long soiourn in Vera Cruz, exposed
myself to night air for about week in the
Bay of Panama and at Aspinwall and got the
thought it eradicated by change of climate and
sldllful medical treatment but this winter it
showed itself again. Outwardly seeming
to be in almost robust health I
was troubled with the malarous
symptoms. which. however, Dr.. .aminet was
skillfully treating. About ten days ago. how
ever he discovered that l had latent govt
in my spine. During all this i'll
ness my mind remained clear
and strong, although l was natur
ally frettul over business annoyauces and dis
appointments. My affairs being in order, and
my estate of about S25, 900, productive and I'M.
impaired. But within the last few days
great change has come over me.
Troubled by insomnia and frequent nerv
BUSINESS, l suffer from persistent melan
choly. My mind has begun to wander. 1 have
Authorizations and even visions when l am
wide awake of materalized spirits OF deceased
relatives and friends urging me by signs
to join them in their world Life has
become burden to me. I combat the feeling
by resolves to live for the sake of my dear, de-
voted wife, and then again fear that becoming
a physical or even mental wreck. will become
burden to her with her fragile constitution,
and my limited estate and loss of income in
such an event.
Twice before in my life, many years ago, l
had, under similar circumstances, at.
tack of what / afterward rccog.
nized as transitory partial dcmcntia.
They were kept concealed by those around
me- now all dead, and passed of without evil
results. OF late. especially within the last two
days,l have feared IL similar attack, but much
more violent.
1 am now still IN sound mind, and write
down this statement so that should do any
thing rash my friends may feel assured that
it was in some such temporary dis
order of my mind. In that event l COM
mend myself to the mercy of God and
the charitable judgment of man. solicit for my
excellent and devoted wife the sympathy of my
friends. and especially ask that my body be dis
posed of as directed in my will.
THOS. C. REYNOLDS.
The letter was written in ink and in
strong hand, and the signature was bold
and free.
When Governor Reynolds body arrived
at the morgue IN the Central patrol wagon
the clothing was found to be stained with
dust and blood. and the condition of the
body was ample evidence of the force of
his fall. His usually pleasant looking
face and his gray beard were covered
with blood which oozed from two cuts
one on his forehead and the other at the
side of his nose. His shirt front
was snowy white, and his
clothes was of neat pattern.
He was in his stocking feet and
some of the buttons on his coat and vest
were missing having been forced off
when he struck the bottom of the shaft
His hat and cuffs were laid near his head
on the slab Many of the friends and &C
uuain tances of the deceased called to look
upon his remains, and many expressions
of deep regree were uttered. Among the
first callers were President George w.
Allen of the Council, Manager Lewis of
the Southern Hotel, Mr.. James E.
Withrow, and other, all of whom knew
him well. Speaking of the deceas-
ed, one of the sympathetic visitors
made the remark: ''lsn't it pity
that such an illustrious career should be
brought to such shocking ends He was
a man of strong intellect, and no one
would ever dream that his mind was in
any way affected He was an intellectual
giant, and had perfect command of the
languages. He received a thorough edu-
cation at Heidelberg, and that, altogether
with his love of reading and studying,